Pledge Now

Invites customers, employees, and others to join us in helping to feed families this November

The restaurant industry is fundamentally built to feed and nourish local communities—so it’s no surprise that they’re often the first to step up in times of need. At Toast, we’re committed to supporting them in combating hunger and food insecurity—which is a big part of why we committed $5 million over the next five years to this cause.

As millions of families in the U.S. face a potential gap in SNAP benefits, food banks and pantries are expecting a surge in demand. The restaurant industry has always been defined by generosity, creativity, and care. Restaurants around the country are stepping up in the face of this urgent need, and so are we. 

Every November, Toast holds its “Season of Giving,” a month-long Toast.org tradition that unites our Toaster community to help fight food insecurity, a global issue impacting millions of people. Now in its fifth year, there has never been a more crucial time to reaffirm our support for this issue. This Season of Giving, we are doubling down through community and restaurant grants, matching guest donations, and employee giving and volunteering. Toast is also committed to enabling restaurants as changemakers while helping to bridge the gap for families in need.

“Over the past week alone, we’ve seen countless restaurants and retailers across the country step up in extraordinary ways to support their communities,” said Kelly Esten, Chief Marketing Officer of Toast. “From setting up fundraisers for local food banks and pantries to offering free meals to SNAP-eligible families, their compassion and leadership remind us what this industry is all about. At Toast, we’re proud to stand alongside them as they continue to inspire us all to take action against hunger.”

Here’s how we’re expanding our commitment to fight food insecurity and making a difference this Season of Giving:

Join Us

Visit this page for more information on how Toast customers can get involved, from setting up Toast Fundraising to implementing a pay-it-forward campaign.

This is what our community does. Together, our team, Toast.org, and our 156,000 customer locations are stepping up to keep local families fed.


About Toast

Toast [NYSE: TOST] is a cloud-based, all-in-one digital technology platform purpose-built for the entire restaurant community. Toast provides a comprehensive platform of software as a service (SaaS) products and financial technology solutions that give restaurants everything they need to run their business across point of sale, payments, operations, digital ordering and delivery, marketing and loyalty, and team management. We serve as the restaurant operating system, connecting front of house and back of house operations across service models including dine-in, takeout, delivery, catering, and retail. Toast helps restaurants streamline operations, increase revenue, and deliver amazing guest experiences. For more information, visit www.toasttab.com.

Contact
media@toasttab.com

With Congress’s recent passage of what’s being informally called the “Big Beautiful Bill”(H.R.1)— a piece of legislation that reshapes corporate tax policy and charitable giving incentives — CSR and corporate philanthropy leaders are reevaluating how to meet their social impact goals without compromising financial efficiency. One powerful tool rising to the top of the strategic toolkit is the Donor-Advised Fund (DAF). Already well known among larger corporate philanthropy teams, DAFs offer companies a compliant and flexible way to give — while also navigating around new limitations introduced by the bill.

What’s in the “Big Beautiful Bill”—and Why It Matters

While we won’t go into details here, three key implications of the bill for corporate giving:

In short, the legislation could make it harder for corporations to maintain consistent, flexible funding for the nonprofits they support—unless they adjust their approach.

Enter the Donor-Advised Fund (DAF)

A Donor-Advised Fund (DAF) allows a corporation to make a charitable contribution to a sponsoring organization (see a list of providers at the end of this article), receive an immediate tax deduction, and then recommend grants to nonprofits from that fund over time.

Key benefits:

3 Strategic Ways to Use a DAF Under the New Legislation

1. Pre-Fund Future Giving
If deduction caps are expected to tighten further, front-load your CSR contributions into a DAF during favorable tax years. This secures the deduction now while giving your team time to allocate funds thoughtfully in the years ahead

2. Simplify Compliance
Private foundations and direct corporate grant programs may face more oversight or reduced flexibility under the new bill. A DAF offers a streamlined, lower-maintenance alternative that still allows your company to remain an engaged and intentional giver —without increasing compliance burdens.

3. Enhance Agility and Responsiveness
A DAF empowers CSR teams to act quickly when crises arise—natural disasters, humanitarian needs, or emerging community challenges—without needing to wait for the next budget cycle or tax window. You already have pre-allocated, pre-approved funds ready to go.

Using a DAF to ensure impact dollars for the long term

Using a DAF responsibly demonstrates fiscal prudence and a long-term commitment to social impact. To ensure transparency and trust:

A well-managed DAF can be a way to make giving more sustainable in a changing regulatory environment.

Considering a DAF?

Explore Your Options
There are many reputable organizations that sponsor DAFs for corporations of all sizes. Companies often work with community foundations or financial institution-sponsored DAFs. We encourage you to explore providers that align with your company’s values, administrative needs, and impact goals. And, given possible tax and compliance implications, always be sure to involve your financial and legal teams in any decision.

Not all DAFs are the same – each comes with its own set of fees, services, and areas of expertise. It’s worth investing the time to research providers to understand how they can support your specific philanthropic goals.

Sample questions to ask DAF providers:

The “Big Beautiful Bill” may change how your company gives — but not why you give. Impact programs remain a vital channel for companies to support communities, advance equity, and respond to global challenges. Tools like Donor-Advised Funds allow you to stay focused on impact while adapting to evolving policy. Now is the time to evaluate whether a DAF fits into your broader giving strategy—especially if you aim to maximize year-end tax benefits, plan for multi-year commitments, or insulate your giving from political and economic uncertainty.

“We love that Kiva is a meaningful way to engage with our global teams towards a single impact goal while providing employees the flexibility to select causes that are personally meaningful to them.”

In our age of easy clicks and instant access, it’s simple to send your money across international borders. It’s also expensive. According to the UN Dept. of Economic and Social Affairs, it can cost upwards of 7 percent of funds sent from a person in one country to someone in another. Even with more digital providers available, average fees remained high — over 4% in 2024 for formal digital channels, and even higher for traditional cash-based remittances.

This cost burden impacts nearly 800 million people who rely on money sent from family members working abroad. In 2023 alone, 184 million migrants sent $656 billion back home, supporting education, healthcare, small businesses, and emergencies.

Lower fees mean more frequent transfers and greater impact. On average, Remitly keeps about $2.31 for every $100 sent — covering the cost of fast, secure, and reliable money transfers – and the rest goes directly to the recipient.

In 2024, individuals using Remitly sent over $54 billion worldwide, and Remitly estimates they saved their customers over $1 billion in remittance fees — meaning more money reaches the people who matter most. Yet the company wanted to do more to make a positive financial impact — and give its employees the opportunity to do so as well.

So when it came to Giving Tuesday, it made sense to partner with Kiva.

Giving on a global scale

“Supporting someone with a similar story feels like giving back to the journey that shaped my own.”

Headquartered in Seattle, WA with offices around the world, Remitly celebrated Giving Tuesday 2024 by gifting every employee $25 to support a Kiva borrower of their choice — encouraging personal connections to places and people that matter to them.

“What I love about Kiva is how it allows us to directly contribute to impactful projects and make a real difference in someone’s life,” says Remitly founder and CEO Matt Oppenheimer.

“This year, I used my credits to support Sarah, a smallholder farmer from the region of Busia. Her inspiring story resonated deeply with me — Remitly’s journey began while I was living in Kenya, and I’ve always felt a strong connection to the country.”

For some, the bonds reached closer to home. Pia Dailo, a Remitly Change Management Specialist based in the Philippines, chose to lend to borrower Jackelyn because it reminded her of her childhood.

“Helping Jackelyn expand her motorcycle business brought back memories of my family’s journey with tricycles as our main income source,” recalls Pia.

“Supporting someone with a similar story feels like giving back to the journey that shaped my own.”

All in all, the campaign reached more than 1,000 Kiva borrowers in 50 countries — reflecting Remitly’s Global Impact Vision: to increase financial security and resilience in communities around the globe.

Enthusiastic execs, increased engagement

“The energy and connection it created were incredible — global offices and teams felt personally invested, not just in the campaign but in the impact their lending choices made in communities that matter to them.”

Remitly iPhone app image
In addition to the investment from individual lenders, this Giving Tuesday campaign received a significant boost when CEO Oppenheimer announced that Remitly would double the impact for every $25 credit employees used.


The enthusiasm from top executives spread quickly across the globe, leading to outstanding results, including:

The company garnered such stunning participation with a cohesive communications strategy. Sharing Kiva borrower stories and their impact through internal channels, emails, and webinars piqued interest, while leaderboards created friendly competition between offices.

Feedback acknowledged the leaderboards as “critical,” used on a daily basis to keep employees and leaders informed across time zones. Each office also used their own assets and materials, which made it easy to tailor Kiva resources for their particular office or team.

The success of the campaign also grew from the grassroots level. Employee ambassadors from each office inspired their coworkers, using their own cultural knowledge and regular updates from the executive team. Borrower data revealed that many employees—especially those from international backgrounds—tended to invest in the country where they reside.

“Developing the Giving Champions program across our global offices was a game-changer for engagement. By encouraging local teams to lead, we saw participation jump from 33% to over 70%. The energy and connection it created were incredible — global offices and teams felt personally invested, not just in the campaign but in the impact their lending choices made in communities that matter to them,” says Kiana van Waes, Principal Program Manager of Sustainability and Global Impact, who leads the Kiva program at Remitly.

“This program proved that when we tap into local passion, we can drive real impact at a global scale.”

Julita, Philippines, Transportation

Sharing stories of borrowers like Julita helped engage employees in the campaign

A partnership for good

Remitly’s commitment to increasing access to digital financial services around the world dovetails with Kiva’s mission of expanding access to underserved communities — though that didn’t necessarily guarantee a Giving Tuesday success.

Even with the best of intentions, engaging thousands of employees globally presents a significant challenge. How can companies align along so many different values, cultures, and communities?

An inspiring strategic plan like the one Remitly applied to Kiva’s global footprint brings organizations together —while allowing individuals to choose where they’d like to make an impact.

“What’s incredibly special for Remitly is that Kiva has options for lending in many of the countries where our customers’ recipients — and where our employees live and work,” says Mallory Boulter, VP of Global Impact.

“We love that Kiva is a meaningful way to engage with our global teams towards a single impact goal while providing employees the flexibility to select causes that are personally meaningful to them.”

Kiva has helped organizations and companies around the world engage employees and customers, while increasing their positive impact. What can partnering with Kiva do for your organization?

Fill in the form to get more stories like this one:

For more information on the form visit here

NEW YORK, September 30, 2025 –  Pledge 1%, a global movement that inspires, educates, and empowers every company to leverage its unique assets for good, today presented Australian-founded unicorn Airwallex with the 2025 Pledge 1% Impact Award.

Each year, Pledge 1% selects one company on the Cloud 100 List to receive special recognition for its commitment to social impact. We are thrilled to announce that Airwallex, a leading global payments and financial platform building the future of global banking, is the winner of this year’s Award. 

Airwallex joined the Pledge 1% movement in 2024 by committing 1% of their employees’ time, 1% of profits and 1% of products to support the innovation community. Airwallex has  activated this commitment through its global impact initiative, Airwallex Impact, which provides a suite of resources to the innovation community through Airwallex employee mentor programs, the Airwallex for Startups program, and product discounts for select nonprofit organizations. Through the Airwallex for Startups program, Airwallex has donated AU$64,000 in acceleration grants in Australia and SG$10,000 in Singapore, plus mentorship and resources to over 1,800 startups globally.

Earlier this year, Airwallex rolled out a company-wide global volunteering initiative, through which all 1,800+ Airwallex employees commit three days each year to volunteering – amounting to roughly 1% of employee time devoted to community service. In the first half of 2025, Airwallex’s global employees have already contributed to an 58% uplift in volunteering across a diverse range of social causes from supporting women of domestic violence in Melbourne, to feeding the community in San Francisco and mentoring young women starting on their STEM journey in Singapore.

This builds on previous philanthropic gifts, including an AU$3M donation to the University of Melbourne, which funded 43 scholarships, with 40% to women and 57% to international students. Airwallex also funded an AU$150,000 donation for financial assistance for an additional 65 students to support non-tuition related costs of attending school. 

“These students have become a part of the Airwallex community in many ways, as interns and mentees at Airwallex, and their presence at our company also opened up a meaningful opportunity for Airwallex employees to share their experience to guide future founders and innovators,” said Lucy Liu, co-founder and President guiding Airwallex’s social impact efforts.

To date, the Airwallex team has committed more than 400 hours to mentorship since the mentorship program started two years ago. The partnership is expected to continue for at least another two years.

Furthermore, another key pillar of their commitment, Airwallex’s equity pledge, is valued at over US$62M, and will provide the company with a sustainable funding source to ensure impact for years to come.

Airwallex exemplifies what it means to be a leader in the Pledge 1% movement—not only through its own ambitious commitments, but also by serving as a true force multiplier. Beyond giving back within their own company, they have consistently championed Pledge 1% on global stages, inspired other CEOs to join, and integrated the movement into their programs for startups and entrepreneurs. Their efforts extend the reach of the movement itself, helping to spark new commitments and set a powerful standard for how companies can embed purpose at scale.

“Airwallex’s comprehensive, global approach to Airwallex Impact makes them a true role model for how companies can leverage their assets to do good,” said Amy Lesnick, CEO of Pledge 1%. “They are embedding purpose into the core of their culture and, just as importantly, helping to build and expand the Pledge 1% movement by inspiring others to follow their lead. We are proud to recognize Airwallex with this year’s Pledge 1% Impact Award.”
“We are incredibly honored to receive the 2025 Pledge 1% Impact Award. This recognition is a testament to the hard work and passion of our entire global team,” said Jack Zhang, CEO and Co-founder of Airwallex. “We’ve seen firsthand how our efforts, from our global volunteering initiative to our partnerships with organizations like the University of Melbourne and our Airwallex for Startups program, are creating tangible, positive change. We are excited to continue this journey, leveraging our unique assets and skillsets to support the next generation of innovators and build a better future together.”

By accepting this Award, Airwallex joins the company of past Pledge 1% Impact Award Winners, including: Twilio, DocuSign, Slack, Procore, Canva, Guild Education, Snyk, Checkr, and ServiceTitan.

We are also proud to recognize all of the Pledge 1% companies celebrated today on the Cloud 100 List: Airwallex, Algolia, AppsFlyer, Automation Anywhere, Checkr, Cohesity, Guild, LaunchDarkley, Personio, Snyk, and Workato.

——————————————————

About Airwallex

Airwallex is building the future of global banking. As a leading financial and payments platform for modern businesses, we provide trusted solutions to manage everything from global payments, business accounts, corporate cards and spend management to embedded financial services.

Built for scale, our platform removes the friction from global financial operations – empowering over 150,000 businesses worldwide, from startups to global enterprises, to operate and grow beyond borders.

Founded in Melbourne and trusted by leading brands such as BILL, Bolt, Brex, Canva, Deel, Navan and Qantas, Airwallex is redefining how businesses manage their finance and payments globally. Learn more at www.airwallex.com.

News

A quick guide for CSR leaders helping nonprofits embrace responsible innovation.

Used wisely, AI can be a superpower for social good—helping doctors catch disease earlier, getting food to people who need it faster, streamlining disaster response, and letting nonprofits stretch every dollar and hour further. No wonder more and more companies are looking to help nonprofits boost data quality, level up AI literacy, and even co-create their own AI intelligent tools.

But used frivolously AI can suck up enough energy to power a small city—just to create what your dog might look like as a human being (guilty). So for companies that genuinely want to harness AI for social good, the question is: how do we build tools that help people without wrecking the planet in the process?

One way is to upskill your tech volunteers on ethical and sustainable AI practices. They should know how to build smart and clean. Here are some specific strategies for limiting the environmental impact of AI tools that might help a nonprofit use or build: 

1. Just Because You Can Use AI Doesn’t Mean You Should

AI is a powerful tool (like a chainsaw—amazing when needed, dangerous when misused, and wildly unnecessary for slicing bread). And sometimes, the best solution is… a spreadsheet. Or a hotline. Or a human being using their humanity and common sense. One of the best things corporate volunteers can do to help a nonprofit is to ask:

2. Keep It Lean and Green 

Not all AI models have the same environmental cost. A large language model with billions of parameters can emit as much carbon as five cars over their lifetime just from training. But smaller, more efficient models can be equally effective—and far less damaging. Your volunteers can encourage environmentally mindful approaches including:

3. Design With the People You’re Trying to Help

Sustainability isn’t just about energy—it’s also about equity. AI tools should be designed with—and for—the communities they aim to serve. Encourage the nonprofits you work with to co-design. Get feedback. Respect cultural context. And don’t scrape data without consent.

Best practices for ethical design:

4. Measure Emissions and Set Limits

Encourage the nonprofits you work with to track the energy usage and emissions from any AI projects (tools like CodeCarbon can help) and set internal guardrails for what’s acceptable.

This past Spring, Salesforce, in collaboration with Hugging Face, Cohere, and Carnegie Mellon University, launched the AI Energy Score, a tool for benchmarking the energy efficiency of AI models. This score aims to provide a standardized, transparent way to measure and compare the energy consumption of different AI models, enabling developers and organizations to make informed decisions about model selection and deployment.

They use this score to measure the energy efficiency of the projects that come out of there Salesforce Accelerator — Agents for Impact program. 

5. Fund “Green” Cloud Providers

Encourage nonprofits to choose cloud services that run on renewable energy and have a strong sustainability commitment (e.g., Google Cloud, Microsoft Azure, AWS with sustainability pledges). Or better yet, provide funding specifically for those services. 

6. Know When to Review or Sunset an AI Baby

Not every AI project is meant to live forever. Sometimes the most responsible thing you can do is… let it go. Encourage your nonprofit partners to decommission models that aren’t truly serving their purpose anymore. Or that cost more carbon than they’re worth. Or were, let’s be honest, a little overhyped to begin with. Some companies and nonprofits started with some AI experiments to test things out. Don’t let those applications limp along. 

Make sure to:

Balance Is Possible

When designed thoughtfully, AI can do both—powering progress without pollution. As technical experts, make sure your employee volunteers  understand the trade-offs so that they can best serve their nonprofit partners. 

Cheat sheet for your AI volunteers. If you’re building—or investing in—AI for good, make sure it’s:
✅ Necessary
✅ Efficient
✅ Ethical
✅ Designed with community
✅ Planet-friendly

And if they’re not sure, ask. Organizations like Climate Change AI, AI for Good, and CodeCarbon.

Resources

Pledge 1% is proud to announce the launch of its first dedicated country team outside of the United States — in Australia, one of the movement’s most dynamic and fast-growing regions.

Australia has been central to the Pledge 1% story from its very inception. The co-founder of Atlassian, Scott Farquhar, now Chair of Pledge 1%’s board, co-founded the movement nearly a decade ago. Since then, more Australian companies, including Atlassian, Canva, Airwallex, Culture Amp, Employment Hero, and many others, have woven social impact into their business models by pledging equity, profit, product, or employee time. Today, over 1,800 companies across Australia are part of a global community of 19,000+ Pledge 1% members in 130 countries — collectively unlocking billions of dollars and tens of thousands of hours of employee time for benevolent causes.

The establishment of a dedicated team signals the next chapter: deepening support for members, accelerating growth, and providing a blueprint for Pledge 1%’s future global expansion. By localizing resources and relationships while leveraging the strength of the U.S. team, the new Australian office will offer an enhanced experience for current and future members, driving greater community impact.

Leadership for the Next Phase

The team will be led by Antonia Ruffell, appointed as Managing Director, Australia, for Pledge 1%. Antonia brings over 20 years of philanthropic leadership experience to the role. She will split her time between this new appointment and her current position as  CEO of StartGiving, a nonprofit founded by Daniel Petre AO to inspire a culture of personal giving among Australia’s tech founders and executives.

“I’m excited to lead Pledge 1% in Australia at such a pivotal time,” said Antonia Ruffell. “With more than 1,800 members already active here, the opportunity to deepen support and inspire even more companies to pledge is enormous.”

Building on Strong Roots

The extensive groundwork laid by the longstanding partnership between Pledge 1% and the Atlassian Foundation made this milestone possible, as well as the support of the Skip Foundation (Scott Farquhar’s family foundation). The Atlassian and Skip Foundations continue their commitments to Pledge 1% with this expansion. Canva co-founders Melanie Perkins and Cliff Obrecht also recently joined the Pledge 1% Global Visionary Council, further underscoring Australia’s outsized role in shaping the future of corporate impact worldwide.

“When we co-founded Pledge 1%, the idea was simple: make giving back a core part of building a company from day one,” said Scott Farquhar, Atlassian co-founder and Chair of the Pledge 1% board. “I’m proud to see that vision flourish in Australia, with a dedicated team supporting the next wave of founders and companies who will lead with impact.”

A Blueprint for Global Growth

The launch of Pledge 1% Australia is more than a regional investment — it represents a model for how the movement will scale globally in the years to come. By combining the reach of a global movement with the power of localized leadership, resources, and community, Pledge 1% is creating a blueprint for embedding impact into business norms everywhere.

“Australia has always been at the heart of Pledge 1%’s story,” said Amy Lesnick, CEO of Pledge 1%. “With its vibrant startup ecosystem, strong leadership, and appetite to accelerate philanthropy, Australia is uniquely positioned to demonstrate how companies can multiply their impact — a blueprint for how we’ll grow globally.”


As we look to the next decade, Australia’s dedicated team will help unlock even greater potential for companies of all sizes to join the movement, integrate giving into their DNA, and amplify the ripple effects of impact at scale.

At Passion Fruit Partners, giving back is not a one-time event. It is an annual tradition rooted in purpose, and acting as a reminder to why they exist.

As a small team of 25 nonprofit professionals and Salesforce experts, Passion Fruit Partners joined the Pledge 1% movement to formalise what was already in their culture: donating time and resources to the communities they care about.

Each year, the team participates in a company-wide day of service, volunteering their time across various cities in Canada and supporting nonprofits that align with their mission. This year, their focus was on food security, reducing food waste, and providing hands-on community care.

On a single day, team members across five Canadian provinces volunteered with local nonprofit organizations, reinforcing that a small, values-led company can deliver a powerful, lasting impact.

Beyond these donations, Passion Fruit Partners also contributes 1% of annual revenue through an employee-directed giving program. Staff choose the causes closest to their hearts, ensuring the company’s impact extends year-round and reflects the team’s values. 

A Canada-Wide Day of Volunteering

Through their Pledge 1% commitment, the team at Passion Fruit Partners spent the day immersed in community service. They supported local food-focused organisations that are responding to real and growing needs across the country.


Toronto: Sorting 2,775 lbs of Potatoes with Second Harvest


In Toronto, team members volunteered with Second Harvest, Canada’s largest food rescue organisation. They helped sort and pack more than 2,775 pounds of surplus potatoes. The produce was boxed up and sent to food banks and community groups to support families in need. The team worked on-site, checking quality, lifting crates, and ensuring that the food was safe and ready for delivery.
 
IMG_2991.jpg

Calgary: Raising Funds for Holiday Cheer

In Calgary, one team member volunteered at the Calgary Stampede to raise funds for The Magic of Christmas. This volunteer-led nonprofit delivers gifts and meals to families, seniors, and shelters during the festive season. By selling Kinsmen Lottery tickets, she helped raise $10,000 to support this mission. The funds will contribute to supplies, gift deliveries, and transport across the city.

Vancouver: Frontline Support at the Greater Vancouver Food Bank

The Vancouver team supported the Greater Vancouver Food Bank, which provides nutritious food to individuals and families across four cities. Volunteers helped distribute food, packed special hampers for seniors, and coordinated safe and efficient parking for those accessing services. Every role contributed to a smooth, respectful experience for the community.

Nova Scotia: Tech Tools for a Local Food Bank

On the East Coast, one teammate volunteered solo at the Berwick Food Bank. He digitised their inventory tracking process, introduced Google Forms for food shipment recording, and set up reporting tools in Google Sheets. He also coordinated a faster internet connection so staff could work more efficiently. The updates helped the organisation modernise key parts of their day-to-day work.

Winnipeg: Rescuing Food and Reducing Waste

In Winnipeg, two team members volunteered with Food Rescue. They sorted and prepared surplus food collected from suppliers, ensuring that it reached shelters, food banks, and community fridges. The work helped reduce waste and increase food access for families across the region.

Supporting Missions Beyond the Day

Volunteering was only one part of this year’s impact. Passion Fruit Partners also made financial donations to each organisation that their team supported. These donations helped sustain vital services, scale successful programs, and support operational costs long after the team’s volunteer day had ended.

A Tradition That Inspires Action


Passion Fruit Partners proves that a small team can drive wide-reaching impact. Their annual Pledge 1% day of service is more than a team-building activity. It is a reflection of who they are and the values they bring into their work all year round.
 
PFP’s giving does not stop at volunteering. Through their employee-directed giving program, the company commits 1% of its annual revenue to nonprofits chosen by staff. This model ensures that every team member has a voice in where funds are directed, further embedding purpose into their culture.

“We’re a small team working exclusively with nonprofits. Giving back is already in our culture. But doing it together, in person, reminds us why it all matters as we see the work in action, and that helps us even more.”
— Passion Fruit Partners Co-Founder, Ben Haggith

If you are a small business considering joining Pledge 1%, this story is your invitation. Purpose does not require scale. Just heart, time, and a willingness to show up.
 
PXL_20250814_142604633.MP.jpg
 
Member Stories

Today’s political and economic climate is putting more of the spotlight on companies: how they operate, how they hire, where they work, and how they give. This is requiring many business leaders to rethink how they show up for their customers, employees, shareholders, and customers in today’s climate. 

For many, past strategies for sustainability, ESG, DEI, and other corporate impact initiatives are no longer resonating, but these commitments have become increasingly important, even if expressed in new ways. 

Despite the changes happening around us, there is a evolution happening within corporate impact and outside of the spotlight that is redefining how companies – their teams, products, and assets – can make a positive difference in today’s constantly changing and increasingly uncertain world. This is creating new pathways for companies to grow and is providing business leadership with a remarkable opportunity to lead with their beliefs, values, and vision for the future.

We first convened leaders of the Pledge 1% community in March 2025 to understand their perspectives, challenges, and responses to the political and economic changes following the US election. This same group of companies met again in June 2025 to further discuss how they have adapted their impact strategies and continued to support their ecosystem of partners, employees, shareholders, and customers in today’s climate.


1748955562473.jpeg

During these convenings, we learned that there are a number of driving forces causing companies to reevaluate and revise their corporate impact programs. These include (among others):

These conditions are constantly evolving, and yet one force has remained constant: companies’ unwavering commitment to make a difference. 

Based on current news and research, as well as feedback and ideas shared during convenings with Pledge 1% Builders, we explore a few key strategies that businesses are adopting to continue to have a positive social impact in our increasingly challenging world. 

We recognize that current events are impacting this space daily, but so are business leaders, who are choosing to lead with their values. While no one can  be certain of what the future holds, we can share  key learnings and strategies that are helping companies be a positive force for change.

The lexicon of sustained impact

Diversity. Inclusion. Sustainability. Social good. Terms like these are being questioned and even removed from the current lexicon, but that does not mean the values are being deprioritized. In fact, many companies are doubling down on how they engage different customers and employees; they are just using different terminology and strategies to do so.

Many companies are doing this by broadening their impact themes to:

The data overwhelmingly shows that businesses are better when they pay attention to diversity and inclusion – when they prioritize strategies to reach different customers, employees, and stakeholder groups. Sustained commitment, rooted in purpose, not performance, has become a practical approach for many—allowing companies to protect impact efforts while minimizing external risk.

The words have changed. Our actions have not. 

Digging deeper into our values

There is a myth that corporate impact has taken a backseat. It has not. The increased political pressures and scrutiny around corporate social initiatives has instead resulted in many companies integrating these values even deeper into their core operations. This is enabling companies to strengthen (not suppress) their corporate impact strategies and to ensure that their programs are sustainable, secure, and resilient to future challenges.

A new emphasis on “inclusive growth,” for instance, is providing companies with more opportunities to incorporate values like diversity, inclusion, and sustainability into every aspect of their business and to develop new strategies to meaningfully engage employees and customers across different communities. This includes consolidating DEI functions into broader HR or “people experience” teams, or reassessing how diversity goals should be embedded into performance metrics. 

To ignore social diversity is to ignore our reality – something most companies cannot afford to do. Instead, many companies are restructuring their operations and goals to stay even more relevant, responsive, and representative of the communities they employ and serve. This is both good for business and good for the world.

Continuing commitments to communities in need

In a time when government aid is getting cut and traditional civil society infrastructure is struggling, corporate giving has not stopped. Companies are stepping up in new and creative ways to more effectively distribute financial resources back to the customers and communities they care about.
 
For some companies, this involves tightening grantmaking criteria—especially for nonprofit partners whose missions are explicitly aligned with identity-based causes. In some cases, legal teams are now reviewing grantee language to ensure that terms like “equity” or “anti-racism” do not pose reputational or compliance risks for the company. Organizations are reframing programs in more general terms like “future workforce development” or “community empowerment.” This is enabling many companies to continue their commitment to diverse organizations, despite increased public scrutiny around certain social causes. 

Redefining what it means to lead

People around the world are looking for stronger leaders; for clarity, for consistency, for hope. Today’s business leaders have an incredible opportunity to redefine what it means (and what it takes) to lead, starting with their corporate culture.
 
Employees are navigating an uncertain economy, a shrinking job market, new foreign and domestic policies, and unprecedented changes at home and in the office. This is being felt across industries and generations, with some corporate impact leaders reporting that Gen Z employees are more likely to treat work as a job—not a community hub or moral platform. As one individual put it: “We used to think that workplaces were becoming the new third space. Now people are asking, ‘Why should I go above and beyond for a job that might cut me tomorrow?’” 
 
In an era where workplace dynamics and employee expectations are evolving, a strong corporate culture can make all of the difference when it comes to engaging teams and promoting a healthy bottom line. Today’s business leaders are using this moment to define their culture and stand out to employees, customers, and shareholders alike. Employee engagement and community giving programs are proving to be successful strategies to boost morale and foster connections across teams and customers. These activities are driving employee retention, ethical decision-making, performance, and long-term business success. At a time when the world is feeling more and more polarized, companies can uniquely provide their teams with a positive space to collaborate, learn, and thrive.

Strategies to do good while doing business

The good news?
 
Companies are still giving, and corporate impact leaders are finding new ways to integrate their impact programs into the core of their operations. This is ultimately leading to stronger, more sustainable programs that could transform how companies shape our world for the better. 
 
Now is the time to lead. 
 
Businesses large and small — and across every industry — have an opportunity to lead by example and leverage their assets – their team, profits, products, equity, brand, and more – to do good. 
 
The strategies outlined below are being shared to help all types of businesses maximize their ability to serve their customers, teams, and communities in today’s environment. Every business – large or small – can make a difference and collectively, we can form a movement that redefines corporate leadership for generations to come. We hope these strategies will help your organization realize their ability to lead in this moment, and join us and thousands of others in redefining how companies can positively shape our world, all while navigating today’s evolving dialogue, risks, and political changes:
 
Integrate Impact Values into Core Business Functions
In today’s climate, employees and consumers alike are prioritizing brands that align with their values. Data repeatedly shows that companies integrating impact goals into their business and operations are recruiting and retaining better talent, creating stronger brand positioning with customers, and maintaining a healthier bottom line. 
 
By integrating company values into all aspects of your core business functions, you can seamlessly work towards your impact goals while building stronger teams and connecting your product and services to purpose—a win-win for you and your stakeholders. 
 
Invest In & Celebrate Your Communities by Adopting Issue- or Place-Based Approaches
Reframing your impact narrative by focusing on the communities that are important to you as a business can engage consumers and investors, and open the doors for you to drive equity outcomes. This could be your city, state, or town, or a new market you are looking to expand into. You could also focus on broadly resonant themes like mental health, education, food insecurity. 
 
Build Cross-Functional Accountability
Restructuring your impact program offers a great opportunity to think about internal ownership and how your broader team can champion and be a part of your impact goals. Consider integrating impact KPIs into different departments, or establishing internal councils or committees that allow for shared ownership models to drive impact decisions. This can be a great way to promote cross-functional collaboration – all while proactively managing risk.
 
Strengthen Internal Measurement and Materiality
Use data, materiality assessments, and internal dashboards to inform decisions around your community investments and/or internal policies and programs. You can use this moment to connect your impact goals to business KPIs and to more deeply understand their impact on your financial, marketing, hiring, and other organizational outcomes. 
 
Partner Strategically and Engage Employees Authentically
The best news about enhancing your impact program? You never have to do it alone! There are many third-party intermediaries and platforms to help drive your funding, employee giving, product donations, and broader program delivery. 
 
This includes solutions to help streamline employee engagement, including pro bono giving and matching funds. 
 
Ultimately, your impact program offers an incredible opportunity to engage your team (virtual or remote). You can always tap into your talent for guidance and ideas about the issues that matter to them the most. By including them in your planning process, and by offering VTO days, employee volunteer events, you can significantly strengthen your internal culture and provide hope and purpose for your employees, especially in these times of uncertainty. These can lead to increased employee retention, productivity, and workplace satisfaction. Use your impact program to show up for your team, so they will continue to show up for you. 

Re-envisioning, not retreating

Corporate leaders are standing at a critical juncture. They are being compelled to address new language, restrictions, and pressures around how their business impacts the world. At the same time, many are continuing to leverage their talent and resources to innovate and create new opportunities for corporate philanthropy. 
Companies are stepping up in new and more integrated ways. They are positioning, measuring, and aligning their impact programs with their business goals, and the companies that are succeeding – that are attracting customers, engaging team members, and meeting stakeholder expectations – are the businesses that are adapting without sacrificing their culture and values. 
 
Re-envisioning your corporate impact goals and initiatives in today’s environment demands nuance, strategy, and discretion. It is also sparking more creativity and leadership  around approaches that will ensure long-term corporate impact for years to come.
 
Pledge 1% can help you navigate the trends in corporate impact by providing you with a flexible framework and practical resources to build, sustain, and continually evolve your impact program.

You can join the movement for free and access more examples and tools at www.pledge1percent.org.
 

Original article here

SINGAPORE–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Airwallex, a leading global financial platform for modern businesses, has been recognised as a Company of Good (COG) by the National Volunteer & Philanthropy Centre (NVPC) for its meaningful and growing contributions to corporate purpose and community impact in Singapore.

This national recognition affirms Airwallex’s ongoing commitment to building a more inclusive and sustainable future through purposeful business practices, in line with the Forward Singapore movement and COG’s five pillars: People, Society, Governance, Environment, and Economic.

“At Airwallex, purpose is central to our mission,” said Lucy Liu, Co-founder and President, Airwallex. “We’re proud to be recognised as a Company of Good and to do our part in strengthening the communities in which we live and work. We believe innovation and impact go hand in hand – and we’ll continue finding new ways to use our time, product, and expertise to drive economic empowerment, inclusion, and opportunity.”

Airwallex Impact: Turning purpose into action

Airwallex’s recognition is a strong endorsement of Airwallex Impact, its global social impact programme launched in late 2024, grounded in the company’s pledge to the Pledge 1% movement – a global initiative that encourages companies to commit 1% of equity, product, profit, and employee time for the greater good.

Since committing to Pledge 1%, over 120 Airwallex employees globally have contributed volunteer days across a diverse range of activities in the first half of 2025 – a 58% uplift compared to the whole of 2024.

Through Airwallex Impact, the company will continue to deliver volunteering initiatives, forge social impact partnerships, and establish donation frameworks across its global offices, including its Singapore headquarters.

Creating lasting impact on the ground in Singapore

In Singapore, Airwallex employees have already begun making a tangible difference through a range of volunteering initiatives in 2025 that support youth empowerment, marine conservation, and environmental innovation.

Highlights include:

Looking ahead: ‘Invest In Our Home’ with Endowus

Airwallex is also proud to be the Gold Partner for the upcoming Endowus Giving Machines (EGB) Campaign, running from August 2025 to January 2026. These islandwide “virtual giving machines” – which can be found at high traffic areas such as MRT stations, bus stops, malls and cinemas – enable individuals to make charitable donations to a wide range of causes. Since its launch, the initiative has raised nearly S$300,000 in donations for over 40 local charities. This year, EGB is held in conjunction with SG60, aligning with the theme of “Building Our Singapore Together” where contributions may be eligible for the SG Gives matching grant.

“We’re excited to partner with Airwallex on the Endowus Giving Machines campaign to make giving more accessible, visible and impactful across Singapore,” said Gregory Van, Co-founder and CEO, Endowus. “Airwallex’s commitment to social impact aligns with our shared belief that finance can be a force for good – not just in building wealth, but in enabling broader social impact. Together, we’re empowering more people to support meaningful causes that they care about in simple, everyday ways.”

As Airwallex continues to grow in Singapore and across the region, its focus remains clear: to create long-term value for businesses, communities and the broader economy by pairing world-class financial infrastructure with strong corporate purpose.

About Airwallex

Airwallex is a leading financial platform building the future of global banking for modern businesses. By combining proprietary infrastructure with software and AI, Airwallex is reimagining how businesses manage accounts, access capital, control spend, and embed financial services.

Designed to replace fragmented, legacy systems, Airwallex offers a unified platform for global financial operations – providing everything from multi-currency business accounts to payments to spend management and embedded financial products.

Founded in Melbourne and trusted by over 150,000 businesses worldwide – including TikTok, Rippling, Navan, Qantas, and SHEIN – Airwallex is powering a new era of global banking without borders.

Learn more at www.airwallex.com

News

Ready to get involved?
Pledge Now